God forgives everything: archbishop
The B.C. Catholic
The keys to spiritual freedom and forgiveness were given to young adults attending a reconciliation event at St. Matthew’s Parish Feb. 19.
“Celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation means being enfolded in a warm embrace,” said Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, during his homily to more than 300 youth. “It is the embrace of the Father’s infinite mercy.”
Freedom, the annual reconciliation event sponsored by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry (OYYAM), featured Archbishop Miller and Father Rufo Zarate as guest speakers. They spoke about the importance of reconciliation between Christ and self, especially during the Holy Jubilee Year of Mercy.
“The Holy Father wants us, as individuals and as a community of faith, to become ever more convinced of God’s mercy,” the archbishop said. “How much wrong we do to God and His grace when we speak of sins being punished by His judgment before we speak of their being forgiven by His mercy!”
God is pleased by those “forgiving His children, having mercy on them, so that they may in turn forgive their brothers and sisters, shining as a flame of God’s mercy in the world.”
The archbishop addressed the false freedom that sin creates in many young people today. “One of the highest values of young people is the desire to be free,” he said. “But free from what? Free to do whatever you want, whenever you want?”
“Real freedom is not about doing what you want. You have real freedom when you choose to do what is right and good.”
The most important lesson Archbishop Miller taught the youth is that the Lord’s forgiveness is eternal and everlasting. “God forgives everything, and understands us even in our limitations and contradictions,” he said. “But Jesus made it crystal clear that no wound is left untended.”
“God forgives all sins if only we repent, turn in trust to Him, and ask for that forgiveness He wants to give us.”
Erwin Fung, a consultant with OYYAM, enjoyed the spiritual growth exhibited by many of the youth. “It was a great evening,” he said. “It was just so amazing to see the young people celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation and take the lessons to heart.”
Fung noted the lessons on reconciliation taught that evening were effective. “We had 18 priests, including Archbishop Michael, hearing confessions!”
Christina Potusek, a parishioner and member of the St. Matthew’s youth group, also gave a presentation to the youth on being missionaries of mercy. “She revealed how we are all called to show mercy to others in a practical sense through prayer and corporal acts of mercy,” Fung said.
